Happy 2nd Birthday Sadie!

Two years ago today (April 10th), we got to welcome a new baby to our family....Sadie.  She is full of energy and keeps us going each day with smiles, kisses, her funny ways, her determination, being feisty, love, and so much more.  This little girl lives up to the meaning of her name which is Beautiful, Princess, Little, Blessed.  This picture was taken by my friend Katie Reid with Imprints Photography.  I love it because it shows Sadie when she's upset & doesn't get her way how she reacts.  Thought I'd also share the 2 minute video that we shared at her baby dedication.

When people ask the ages of our kids and hear the span of about 5 1/2 years between Morgan & Sadie they sometimes ask if she was planned, a surprise, or well you get the idea.  To be honest, we were content with the size of our family that God had blessed us with BUT (and it matters where you put your but, lol) God knew that we needed 1 more little girl.  We even had three beds in the girls' bedroom with only 2 being used so there was already space for her.  This girl could not for one second be a surprise to God.  Nor could she be unplanned or an  oops.  God has a planned purpose for her and as her parents, Adam & I pray that we guide her path to what God has in store for her.  She is quite unique and though we struggle guiding her willfulness at times, I appreciate those qualities because when directed in the right way, she will SHINE for JESUS and her willfulness will be a strength when she's following God's plan!

Psalm 139:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

Here is the blessing prayer that I wrote and Adam prayed over Sadie and the kids & I, our family, and our church family agreed in prayer at her baby dedication when she was 5 1/2 months old. It still holds true for what we desire for her today.

Blessing Prayer for Sadie Kieran

Dear Heavenly Father,

We come before you humbly & with thankful & grateful hearts for blessing our family & home with Sadie. She is so smiley & a delight to us & others we encounter.  We thank you for the smiles, the sweet babbling, the laughter, the love she brings to us, & even the occasional tears.  We ask that she continues to shine her light for you, that when she is old enough & understands enough in her heart, she will make the choice to accept your son & live her life for you God.  Help us as her parents to guide the path you have for her. Help us to navigate life’s bumps & turns with grace, love, joy, & patience, & do it according to your word.  Help us to cultivate in her, a love for you, as well as a love for others. Please reveal her gifts & talents to us & to Sadie so we may use your word as a blueprint to grow & develop them to expand & further your kingdom.  We are honored you have put your Beautiful Princess in our care while she is here on Earth.  Please help her to always see the truth you bring to her life.  Help her to own her faith so that when she leaves our home, she will completely and wholeheartedly trust you & continue following you despite what others say or what she encounters.  Help us to pass on positive character qualities & attributes to her.  And for the not so good ones that we unintentionally model or pass to her, we ask for grace & forgiveness as you help her to work through them.  Help us to lead by example, even when it’s not easy. You have entrusted us with a wonderful gift in this Little girl who has been a HUGE blessing in so many ways while she was growing for 9 months and for the 5 ½ months she has been in our home, just like her name means, Little & Blessed. We give her to you Lord, she is your child, your princess. Thank you so much for knowing we needed her in our lives, even when we didn't.  We pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen   

This was supposed to post on Thursday last week.

Surgery Scheduled

I'll probably keep the part I write kinda short. I'm working on making a list of things I'd like to get done before the surgery & in preparation for Easter & it's getting longer by the minute. LOL  

Adam & I met with the doctor in Green Bay yesterday.  The doctor is quite the character. :)   He was informative, to the point, & kinda funny. They have me scheduled for a hysterectomy on April 23rd at 8am.  We'll stay overnight at my sister's house the night before since we have to be at the hospital at 6am.  I will have to stay overnight at the hospital & then released on the 24th to come back home.  I am praying & believing that there won't be any complications so that I can make it back in time for Gabby's Spring Band Concert.  We figured that while we were in Green Bay, we'd eat somewhere we've never eaten.  So we picked Old Chicago.  My sister met us there & we enjoyed a delicious & reasonably priced lunch.  Then we bought two reeds for Gabby's oboe and headed home.  The kids were thrilled that we were home but they aren't thrilled that it means we need to head back down in a few weeks.  I will not be able to pick Sadie up for a few weeks so my mom will come to stay with us to help out.  Yes, we will need some help with dinners and some cleaning as my mom is not used to doing all that stuff on a day to day basis anymore but she is  more than willing to help out where needed. 

I figured that I'd share an entire chapter of the Bible that I've been reading over & over lately.  It is ministering to me and I thought that maybe someone would be ministered to as well.  God has been working on my heart & reminding me that His Word is Life and Truth!  He is the God that Heals. He sent His Word (his Son Jesus Christ), to heal all disease. I feel that it is important to remind you that Jesus died not only to save you from your sins but to heal you and make you whole. It's a package deal.  If you would like to ask Jesus to be a part of your life, to be your Savior & healer & friend or you'd like to find out a little more, don't hesitate to email me at coachjetta7@gmail.com  Jesus wants to be a part of your life today.

Romans 8

New International Version (NIV)

Life Through the Spirit

8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,[b] God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.[c] And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death,but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life[d] because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.[f] And by him we cry, “Abba,[g] Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Present Suffering and Future Glory

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that[h] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirithimself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, and who[i] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

More Than Conquerors

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Still gathering Info

Yesterday I sat down & opened up my Bible and I don't  normally just stop to read wherever I land on but I did.  I opened to pretty much the center of the Bible and started reading Psalm 117 & then 118 and it really just was perfect.  It says:

Psalm 117

1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;
    extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love toward us,
    and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.[a]

Psalm 118

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

2 Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
    “His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
    “His love endures forever.”

5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
    I look in triumph on my enemies.

8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my defense[b];
    he has become my salvation.

15 Shouts of joy and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16     The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

22 The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

25 Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.[c]
27 The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up[d] to the horns of the altar.

28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever

This is what my heart feels!  I will continue to praise & exalt God for I know he is good, his love is never ending.  And I know that he will take care of me and my family & do what is best for us.  I know that we have many battles to fight in order to win this war. Some, we may not win, but we have every intention to win the war!

Be sure to read the entire post because after I typed most of it, I got a phone call with some answers & a plan.

Here's what we have so far.  The tumor marker number went up again which is not what we want.  There are a few options that we could possibly take at this point.  One of them being surgery, which is rather likely at this point but really not sure how soon surgery can be done since my consultation appointment isn't until April 16th in Escanaba.  I am even looking, with help of family, to another doctor & location if I can get in sooner.  I was possibly going to be a part of a study in Ann Arbor but that got nixed today, at least for now, when they found out I am not post-menopausal yet.  So now the Oncologist is waiting for all the info he needs in order to give us our options.

I will admit that I am not completely at peace right now, not knowing all the info but I am not in panic mode either. I am mostly at peace and still seeking God's direction, and I will take that for now.  Perhaps this is God's way of steering us away from being a part of the study right now.  I don't exactly know but He does and I trust that He will keep guiding us.

I am excited that we've got friends coming to visit us tomorrow. Praying that despite the nasty weather, that they have a safe and not too long of a trip up here today.  I am supposed to be working on compiling stuff for getting our taxes finished & instead have had to make several calls & mediate arguing kids.  They are a little annoyed with it snowing again today, that their Spring break is coming to an end, and while it has been fun to be playing with each other all week, I think they may be getting on each other's nerves a little too, AND the biggest, they want a longer break because it went by too quickly.  I myself can't believe that the week is nearly done & has gone by so quickly.  It seems my to-do list keeps increasing rather than decreasing so I need to get a handle on that soon.

We Appreciate all the prayers & helpfulness of all of you!  Though this war is crappy, we truly are blessed to have the love & support & especially prayers of all of you.

UPDATE:  The oncologist just called and I am scheduled for a consultation on Tuesday in Green Bay to have a hysterectomy done.  The surgery could happen as soon as Wed the 9th but we won't know for sure until we have the consultation on Tuesday.  So we have to pack as if we are staying. Not sure of details for hospital stay or anything like that but it is nice that we have family in GB that we can stay with to help with cost of housing.  Looks like my mom is going to be on grandchildren duty. Pray for her strength. And be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday because the 9th is her birthday & the 10th is Sadie's.  Good thing that Sadie won't really know the difference if we celebrate it a little late if we need to.  Thankful that things are working out for timing of the surgery.  I'm asking for God's Supernatural guidance for the physician team and for no complications & His strength for me and recovery.  I trust you Lord!